#Rafter tail designs series

Homeowners looking to construct second homes were searching for ways to bring down construction costs. However, this was only for vacation homes and particularly for beach houses. Rafter tails that are not enclosed are classified as “exposed”.Įxposing the rooftop’s rafter tails became a typical practice when the 21st century rolled over. Most rafter tails are enclosed by a soffit, so that they are not easily visible to the eye. The rafter tail is the cut end of the rafter that stretches out to the edge of the rooftop. The dimensions of a rafter are typically 2″ x 10″ or 2″ x 12″.

It normally follows the angle of the rooftop and could also be a part of a roof truss, in some cases. There are a few key designs components that architects use to give their plans a beach look and feel, and one of them is the exposed rafter tail.Ī rafter is the framing part which directly supports the rooftop sheathing. As you look for a waterfront or beach house plan that fits with your way of life, you’ll start to see that there are some plans that look more beach-like than others. You’ll see many examples of this iconic coastal design element in our Beach House Plan category.Deciding upon a home plan for your waterfront property gives you the opportunity to look into home styles that are more novel than the plans found in most subdivisions. But, if you’re looking for a design with old-fashioned charm, it’s hard to resist the beauty of the exposed rafter tail. Ironically, employing this design feature probably adds cost to the modern construction project due to the care in cutting that is necessary for a presentable exposed board. These days, the exposed rafter tail is used by designers and architects to recreate the look of the classic turn-of-the-century seaside cottage.

Pay Attention to the Details to Get that Classic Seaside Cottage Look If you visit one our nation’s many historic coastal vacation destinations (Nag’s Head, NC, Key West, FL, etc.), you’ll begin to notice the almost pervasive use of the exposed rafter tail. The exposed rafter tails created a look that was casual and relaxed – perfect for seaside cottages and lake homes.Īs use of the exposed rafter tail became wide spread, creative carpenters embellished the cut end into distinctive shapes including horses heads. The homeowner could realize considerable savings by eliminating the cost for the extra material and labor needed to make fully boxed in soffits. Homeowners constructing second homes were looking for ways to lower constructions costs. Rafter tails that are not boxed in are called “exposed”.Įxposing the roof’s rafter tails was a common practice at the turn of the century, but only for vacation homes and especially for beach houses. Most rafter tails are boxed in by a soffit, so that they are not visible to the eye. The rafter tail is the cut end of the rafter that extends to the edge of the roof. A rafter usually follows the angle of the roof, and may be a part of a roof truss.” The rafter is typically a 2” x 10” or a 2” x 12”. The folks at Sound Home Resource Center (a rafter as “The framing member which directly supports the roof sheathing. To make sure we’re all on the same page, we’d best define the term rafter.

The first of these elements is the exposed rafter tail.

#Rafter tail designs series

In the first of an ongoing series titled “Coastal Design Elements” we’d like to introduce you to the key design components that designers and architects use to give their designs a coastal look and feel. As you search for a coastal or beach house design that fits your lifestyle, you’ll begin to notice that some designs look more “coastal” than others. Choosing a design for your coastal property presents the opportunity to explore home styles that are a bit more unique than the designs found in most subdivisions.